Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis says the most positive sign of the Bombers’ stirring 35-point victory over Greater Western Sydney on Saturday was its gritty nature.

The Dons withstood every challenge thrown from the star-studded Giants, never giving up their lead to score their second impressive victory on the trot.

“It’s awesome, it’s always good to win on the road,” Zaharakis said after the win.

“I guess in that second and third quarter when they challenged us, that’s where it was great for the win tonight, because in the past or earlier in the season we could have gone into half-time three or four goals down.

“That momentum that we carried on really set up a big second half for us and guys then believed going into the second half that we can stop this team from scoring and score ourselves.

“I think that was the real positive, that sort of second-quarter surge where we just held them at bay and we were able to stay in the game and then finish them off in that last quarter.”

The bookends of the match were outstanding for the Bombers, first bursting into the game with five goals to two in the opening term before tearing away with six to one in the last quarter.

Essendon’s manic pressure was a clear highlight of its game for the third week running and Zaharakis said the team had faith that the dam wall would break.

“We know our offence will take care of itself if we provide pressure and intensity around the contest and that’s what we did pretty much for four quarters,” he said.

“And then other times in the game we’re going to blow it open, which is what we did in the first and fourth quarters.”

The experienced on-baller was prolific in the clash, gathering 33 disposals, six clearances, six inside-50s and a goal, but he gave all of the credit to one of his teammates.

Tom Bellchambers was immense with 45 hit-outs, including a career-high 19 to advantage, and Zaharakis was full of praise for the ever-improving ruckman.

“He’s one of the best tap ruckmen in the league – I’ve been saying that for the 10 years that I’ve been playing with him – it’s just awesome when he’s up and about and going,” Zaharakis said.

“I spoke about it in the team meeting after the game, that first 10 minutes of the last quarter where we needed a response, we were only five points up.

“And he was just putting it on a plate for us, as mids we asked him to put it wherever in the centre square and he did that for us and that’s what provided the spark for us in the last quarter, it was him.”

Zaharakis stressed that it was vital for the team to continue to push on after breaking through with a crucial defeat of Geelong last week.

“It was really important, because if we had have put in a bad performance this week then it would have cancelled out last week,” he said.

“So it was great that we could back up from last week and now it’s a big test again next week against Richmond, the reigning premiers at Dreamtime at the G, so it’s a massive game for us.

“We’re two from two so far in the last two weeks, but again, it doesn’t mean anything if we can’t back it up.”